Things to do in Rotorua & The Bay Of Plenty
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Polynesian Spa
The Polynesian Spa is in the Government Gardens. A bathhouse was opened at these springs in 1882 and people have been swearing by the waters ever since. There is mineral bathing (36°C to 42°C) in several picturesque pools at the lake’s edge, marble-lined terraced pools and a larger, main pool. Also housed in the modern complex are several more commercial activities such as luxury therapies (massage, mud and beauty treatments) as well as a cafe and gift shop.
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Tamaki Maori Village
Maori culture is a major drawcard in Rotorua and, although some find it heavily commercialised, it’s a great opportunity to learn more about the indigenous culture of NZ. The two big activities are concerts and hangi meals, often packaged together in an evening’s entertainment that features the famous hongi, haka, and poi dances.
An established favourite is Tamaki Maori Village, which does an excellent twilight tour to a marae (meeting house) and Maori village 15km south of Rotorua. Buses collect from the Hinemaru St booking office and also from most accommodation, and feature a briefing on marae protocol by a Maori ‘entertainer’ (aka hilarious bus driver). The concer…
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Rotorua Museum of Art & History
This impressive museum, better known as the Bath House, is in a grand Tudor-style edifice in the Government Gardens. Originally an elegant spa retreat (it opened in 1908), displays in the former shower rooms give a fascinating insight into some of the eccentric therapies once practised here, including 'electric baths' and the Bergonie Chair.
A gripping 20-minute film on the history of Rotorua, including the Tarawera eruption, runs every 20 minutes from 9am (not for small kids – the seats vibrate and the eruption noises are authentic!). Also here is a collection of taonga (treasures) of Te Arawa, featuring woodcarving, flax weaving and jade. Other exhibits relate the stori…
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Rotorua Maori Hangi Dinner and Performance
3.5 hours (Departs Rotorua, New Zealand)
by Viator
Complete your adventure through Rotorua with a traditional Maori "hangi" feast. You'll travel by coach to Tamaki Maori Village where your local guide will escor…
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Blue Baths
Within the Government gardens are the gorgeous Spanish Mission–style Blue Baths, which opened in 1933 (and, amazingly, were closed from 1982 to 1999). Today you can visit a small museum (open 10am to 5pm) recalling the building’s heyday, with recorded anecdotes and displays in the old changing rooms. If it all makes you feel like taking a dip yourself, the heated pool awaits. Ask about occasional dinner-and-cabaret shows (per person from $125).
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O’Keefe’s Fishing Specialists
There’s always good fishing to be had somewhere around the lakes. You can hire guides to fish for trout or go solo, but either way a licence (per day/season $21/105) is essential, available from O’Keefe’s Fishing Specialists. You can fish Rotorua’s lakefront with a licence, though not all lakes can be fished year-round; check with O’Keefe’s.
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St Faith’s Anglican Church
The historic St Faith’s Anglican Church is intricately decorated with Maori carvings, tukutuku (woven panels), painted scrollwork and stained-glass windows. One window features an image of Christ wearing a Maori cloak as he appears to walk on the waters of Lake Rotorua.
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Kaituna River White Water Rafting from Rotorua
3 hours (Departs Rotorua, New Zealand)
by Viator
Kaituna River features grade 5 rapids plus the awesome 7 meter (21 feet) Tutea Falls, the worlds highest commercially rafted waterfall. Take the ultimate thrill…
Not LP reviewed
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Wally’s on the Wharf
Wally sure knows a thing or two about fish and chips. Hoki, snapper, flounder, john dory and tarakihi – done in the deep fry, on the grill or in a burger. Whitebait fritters in season, and chips that score well on the crispometer.
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Indian Star
Getting rave reviews from travellers, this is one of several Indian eateries around town, elevating itself above the competition with immaculate service and marvellous renditions of subcontinental classics. Generous portions and a good vegetarian selection.
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Paradise Valley Ventures
The very safe and professional Paradise Valley Ventures takes treks for novices and experienced riders through a 700-acre farm north of Rotorua. Shorter and longer treks also available.
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Pheasant Plucker
A place for a proper pint, but this time á l’Anglais. The Pheasant proffers locally brewed and British beer, along with bangers ’n’ mash and nonstop carvery with Yorkshire pud (mains $15 to $36).
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Blue Ocean Charters
Fishing, diving and sightseeing trips (including one to Tuhua Island) on the TS Ohorere, MV Te Kuia and MV Ratahi.
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Pak N Save
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Hell’s Gate
Known as Tikitere to Maori, Hell’s Gate is 16km northeast of Rotorua on the road to Whakatane (SH30). Tikitere is an abbreviation of Taku tiki i tere nei (My youngest daughter has floated away), remembering the tragedy of a young girl jumping into a thermal pool. The English name originates from a 1934 visit by George Bernard Shaw. The impressive geothermal reserve covers 10 hectares, with a 2.5km walking track to the various attractions, including the largest hot thermal waterfall in the southern hemisphere. Here you can also see a master woodcarver at work, and learn about flax weaving and other Maori traditions.
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Wai-O-Tapu
South of Rotorua, Wai-O-Tapu, meaning ‘Sacred Waters’, is one of the most famous of the thermal reserves. It has many interesting features packed into a small area, including the boiling, multi-hued Champagne Pool, bubbling mud pool, stunning mineral terraces and the Lady Knox Geyser, which spouts off (with a little prompting from an organic soap) punctually at 10.15am and gushes up to 20m for about an hour. A fairly commercial attraction, it has a large shopping area and cafe, which makes for a reasonable pit stop.
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Kiwi Encounter
The highlight of the Rainbow Springs Kiwi Wildlife Park is Kiwi Encounter, home to NZ’s largest kiwi recovery program − a nationally significant nonprofit conservation project. It offers visitors a rare peek into the lives of not only these greatly endangered birds, but the people trying to save them from extinction. Be prepared for an emotional roller coaster on the excellent 45-minute tours that have you tiptoeing through the actual incubator and hatchery areas. A combo Kiwi Encounter/Wildlife Park ticket costs adult/child/family $42/23/110.
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Waimarino Adventure Park
Waimarino Adventure Park, on the banks of the Wairoa River, offers freedom kayak hire for leisurely paddles along 12km of flat water, runs self-guided tours further up the river, and sea kayaking trips. Its Glowworm Tour is a magical after-dark journey at McLaren Falls Park where you slip into a secret glowworm-filled wonderland. Waimarino also has an adventure park with a kayak slide, diving board, ropes course, warm pools and wildlife-spotting − a great place to spend a day, especially if there are children in tow.
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Skyline Skyrides
Swinging up Mt Ngongotaha is Skyline Skyrides. This gondola cruises up to a hilltop of fun that features panoramic views of the lake and a speedy luge on which you can scoot part-way back down on three different tracks before coming back up on a chairlift (to do it all over again). For even speedier antics, try the sky swing, a screaming swoosh through the air at speeds of up to 160km/h. Also at the top are a restaurant, a cafe and walking tracks around the mountain.
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Te Puia
Pohutu and the Prince of Wales’ Feathers geyser are part of Te Puia, the most polished of NZ’s Maori cultural attractions. Also here is the National Carving & Weaving School, where you can discover the work and methods of traditional Maori weavers and woodcarvers. More of these arts are displayed at Rotowhio Marae, which has a carved meeting house. Also here are a cafe, two museums, a Kiwi reserve and a gift shop that stocks an excellent range of arts and crafts.
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Buried Village of Te Wairoa
Fifteen kilometres from Rotorua on the Tarawera Rd, which passes the pretty Blue and Green Lakes, is the buried village, the site of one of the most dramatic natural events to occur in NZ in the last 150 years − the 1886 eruption of Mt Tarawera. Here you can see the buildings submerged by the eruption, creating an odd time capsule of NZ in the 19th century, with highlights such as the Rotomahana Hotel, a blacksmith’s shop and several whare (houses).
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Whakarewarewa Thermal Village
Whakarewarewa Thermal Village, on the eastern side of Te Whakarewarewa, is a living village, where tangata whenua (the locals) still reside, as they and their ancestors have for centuries. It’s these local villagers who show you around and tell you the stories of their way of life and the significance of the steamy bubbling pools, silica terraces and the geysers that, although inaccessible from the village, are easily viewed from vantage points.
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Tauranga Art Gallery
The Tauranga Art Gallery presents historic and contemporary art, and houses a permanent collection along with frequently changing local and visiting exhibitions. The building itself is a former bank, although you’d hardly know it − it’s an altogether excellent space with no obvious compromise (cue: applause!). Touring the ground and mezzanine galleries, with a stop to poke your nose into the video cube, will take an hour or so.
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Mokoia Island Wai Ora Experiences
Mokoia Island Wai Ora Experiences has exclusive rights to take visitors to Mokoia Island, and offers several tours. The 2½- to three-hour Ultimate Island Experience tour (9.30am, 1pm and 3pm) includes hearing famous tales of the island and takes you to the legendary hot pool of Hinemoa. This is followed by an indigenous food tasting. The shorter 1½- to two-hour Taste of Mokoia tour is similar but with less of a walkabout.
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Rainbow Springs Kiwi Wildlife Park
Rainbow Springs Kiwi Wildlife Park is a must-do for nature-lovers. At the heart of the park are the natural springs, home to wild trout and eels, which you can see from the underwater viewer. There are walkways for wanderings with interpretive displays along the way. Animals abound, both introduced species such as wallabies, emus and rainbow lorikeets, and interesting native birds such as kea, kaka and pukeko.
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